By Mudasir Wani
Kashmir valley has always been under the spotlight for very many reasons. However, of late, Kashmir is caught in the whirlwind of drug addiction which has pushed the valley into a dark abyss.
Pandora’s box is open now. The Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment revealed in the Lok Sabha that nearly 10 lakh people in J&K consume various kinds of drugs. The population of J&K, according to the 2011 census, is 1.25 crore. The figures reveal that estimated 1, 08,000 males and 36,000 females were found using marijuana (Cannabis) in the Union Territory (UT) while as 5, 34,000 males and 8,000 females were found in the dragnet of Opioids and 1,60,000 males and 8,000 females were found using sedatives of different kinds. The Government further informed that, 1, 27,000 males and 7,000 females were noticed using inhalants and a large number of males and females were addicts of cocaine, Amphetamine-Type Stimulants (ATS) and Hallucinogens in the J&K, it added.
According to a study by IMHANS-K, 33.50% of married drug users and 61.70% of unmarried drug addicts in Kashmir are both adults, showing that drug addiction affects not only children but also the elderly.
This wave is skyrocketing, tumbling down the foundations of society in ruins. Numbers and trends only show the tip of the iceberg. The inculcation of drugs is lambasting the conscience and healthy mindset of youngsters. It is a religious theft, a moral theft, an intellectual theft and whatnot. Our youth is sinking in the sea of troubled waters and it is now very difficult to salvage them from this deadly wave. Universities, colleges and other educational institutions are hit hard by drug addiction. This addiction robs the young generation from their senses and its influence has ruined the career of thousands of students. The morality, ethics and values of the student community is marred by the consumption of drugs. Their minds are now encumbered and clogged.
Drug addiction has resulted in multiple social problems such as crime, violence, and has also affected the family system. The ill effects of this heinous problem can’t be avoided and ignored.
The rising crime rate in Kashmir is also correlated with drug addiction. Recently, a young boy brutally killed his mother under the influence of drugs. Another person attacked the people with the wooden log, killed three persons, including his mother and injured several persons.
The sudden rise in drug addiction in Kashmir is due to multiple factors, including divine detachment, unemployment, peer pressure, lack of recreational facilities, and the decades-long political conflict. The government is trying its utmost to nab drug dealers but the problem still seems to be worsening.
The poetic couplet of Shahab Jafri fits the situation:
Tuu Idhar Udhar Ki Na Baat Kar…Ye Bata Keh Kafila Kyun Luta
Mujhe Rehzanoon Ka Gilah Nahin…Teri Rehbari Ka Sawal Hai
The government and the civil society must work shoulder to shoulder and should take concrete steps and make joint efforts in order to wipe the menace of drug addiction. The government must adopt the iron fist approach towards drug traffickers and suppliers. The civil society and rehabilitation centres should come forward and organize workshops, seminars and programmes in Universities, Colleges and other educational institutions and to make everyone aware about the ill effects of drug addiction. Let us foster a culture of compassion, understanding and empathy, reinforcing the importance of family bonds and community support. Together, we can create an environment where our youth feel valued, heard and understood.
The challenge ahead is formidable but so is the strength and resilience of the valley. Let us stand united, breaking down the barriers of addiction, and restoring hope, prosperity, and a brighter future for all. Together we can build a valley free from the clutches of drug addiction, where our youth can flourish, and our society can thrive once more.
Remember, it is not just a fight for today but generations to come. Let us sow the seeds of change now, so that our grandchildren can reap the harvest of a drug-free and prosperous valley. The important precept that will counter this deadly arsenal is the divine decree. The remembrance of Almighty is a cure to both visible existence (body) and invisible entity (soul). Parents too have a greater responsibility to keep a close vigil on their wards and encourage them for Divine attachment. They should exhibit love, sympathy and moral support towards their wards. This ailment needs a spiritual dose.
The budding poet wrings her soul with myriad paroxysms:
In shadows deep, addiction’s grasp entwines,
Valley’s youth lost, in troubled waters ‘brine,
Divine Decree, a cure to heart and mend,
Together we stand this battle we’ll transcend.
Views expressed in the article are the author’s own and do not necessarily represent the editorial stance of Kashmir Observer
- The author is a resident of Koil Pulwama. Feedback, if any, can be shared at [email protected]
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